Signaling device for motor-vehicles.



L A. BEAN: SIGNALING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20.1917- 1,255,97 6. V Patented Feb. 12,19l8.

Svwmttoz LOUIS H-BEHN an enemas LOUIS A. BEAN, 0F DENVER GQLGRAIDO.

SIGNALING DEVICE FOR HECTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 112;,

Application filed February 20, 1917. Serial li o. 149,863.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS A. BEAN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Devices for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved sig naling device for motor vehicles and has for its primary object to provide a day and night signal for indicating the intentions of the driver or chauffeur to other motorists or pedestrians regarding the subsequent movements of the vehicle.

It is another and more particular object of the invention to provide a device for the above purpose embodying a rotary element carrying a signaling arm, an imitation of the human arm and hand, and an electric light bulb arranged in the palm of the hand, means for manually rotating said element to dispose the arm in its indicative position, circuit closing means for illuminating the bulb in the latter position of the arm and means for retu ning the rotary element and the signal arm to normal position.

It is a further general object of my invention to provide a device'for the above purpose which is simple and durable in its construction. may be readily applied to the wind shield frame or other part of the motor vehicle, and is highly convenient and serviceable for the purpose in View.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view with the outer casing partly broken away, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates a standard which is of tubular form to receive the vertically disposed portion of a tubular rod 6. The tubular standard 5 is supported by a ball bearing joint indicated at 9, and is adapted to be fixed against rotation by means of set screws indicated at 10. The upper end of the standard 5 is formed with a vertical arm or extension 11 which.

is rigidly fixed to a circular plate 12. it sleeve or hub 13 projects centrally from one side'of this plate and a stub shaft or rod 14c is rotatably mounted in said tube. Upon one end of this red, the plate 15 is fixed or integrally formed therewith and is provided with a. laterally projecting, annular rim 16 which extends over the perimeter of the plate 12. Upon the rod or shaft 14, a collar or annulus 17 is securely fixed against the outer side of the plate 12 and this annulus 1s provided upon its periphery with teeth 18. The washer or annulus also serves to prevent longitudinal shifting movement of the rod or shaft 14;, plate 15 and rim 16 with respect to the fixed plate 12.

Upon the rim 16, a radially extending arm I 19 is rigidly fixed. This arm is preferably of hollow, sheet metal construction and is formed in imitation of the human arm, terminating at its outer end in a hand 20. The hand is also hollow and the walls of the palm portion thereof are provided with openings through which an electric li ht bulb, indi cated at 21, is visible. It Will be understood that the hand 20 and the bulb 21 may be of any desired contrasting colors so as to be easily discernible.

Upon the outer side of the fixed plate 12, a leverQ 'is-fulcrumed upon the screw or stud 23. In its pivoted end, this lever is formed with a segmental gear 24 which meshes with the teeth 18 on the annulus 17. The other end of the lever .22 is connected by means of a rod 25 to a suitable foot pedal 26 arranged upon the floor of the car adjacent to the dash board.

A spring 27 is fixed at one of its ends to the inner taco of the rim 16 and has its other end secured to the sleeve 13 projecting from the plate 12. This spring normally acts to yieldingly hold the plate 15 and arm 16 against rotation and to retain the arm 19 in a vertical position. It will be understood, of course, that in lieu of the spiral clock spring as illustrated, a coiled wire. spring may be disposed around the sleeve 13 and connected at one end vt0 said sleeve and at its other end to the plate 15.

In the upper end of the tubular standard 5, a contact plug 98 is suitably secured, to which the circuit wires 29, extending from a suitable source of electrical energy such asbatterics or the lighting system of the vehicle, are connected. A similar contact plug 30 is fixed in the rim 16 and wires 31 connect this plug to the electric light bulb 21. The

distance between this latter contact and the contact plug 28 in the normal position of the signaling arm, is 90. It will, therefore, be understood that when the lever 22 is pulled downwardly by the depression of the foot pedal, the rim 16 will be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow, to swing the arm 19 outwardly and downwardly to a horizontal position, and the "contact plug 30 is thereby brought into engagement with the contact plug 28 and the circuit closed so that when the signaling arm arrives at this horizontal position, the bulb 21 will be illuminated. Of course, it is understood that a suitable switeh'is arranged in the circuit so that the circuit may be opened or closed when desired.

A suitable cap or housing 32 covers the projecting end of the rod 'or shaft 1 the pivoted end of the lever and the annulus 17 being suitably secured to the fixed plate 12. q

The edge of this cap is cut away or recessed to permit of the proper movement of the op erating lever 22.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and manner of operation of the device will be clearly and fully understood. The signaling arm may be very easily and quickly moved to its indicative position without requiring that the hands of the driver or chaufi'eur be removed from the steering wheel so that his entire attention may be given to the proper operation of the machine. \Vhile the signaling device is preferably attached to the windshield frame, it"is to be understood that the invention is not so limited, as it may, with obvious modifications, be readily applied to any other desired portion of the car or vehicle body. It will further be understood that the device may be constructed in various sizes and the several operating parts may be made in other forms than those illustrated in the drawing.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the elements employed, the device is never theless susceptible of considerable modification therein and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Havin thus fully described my invention, what I cesirc to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A signaling device of the character described including a fixed supporting plate, a second plate disposed in spaced parallel relation to the supporting plate, a stun shaft fixed to the latter plate and rotatzfbly mount- I ed inthe fixed plate. said second named plate having an annular rim engaged upon the perimeter of the fixed plate, a signaling arm carried by said rim, and means housed be:

tween the fixed and movable parts for retaining the signaling arm in its norn'ial'position.

2. A signaling device of the character described including a fixed plate, a second plate disposed in spaced parallel relation to the fixed plate and having an annular rim extending upon the perimeter of the fixed plate, said fixed plate being provided with a sleeve, a stub shaft fixed to the second named plate and rotatably mounted in said sleeve, an anniilus fixed upon said shaft against the outer side of the fixed plate, a signaling arm carried by the annular rim, and a coil spring fixed at one of its ends to said sleeve LOUIS A. BEAN.

Witnesses:

HOMER D. BEAN, RUFUS M. SNAVELY. 

